Safety device for ships.



A. H. MATTHEW & J. B. PROUTY. SAFETY DEVICE FOR SHIPS. APPLICATION FILEDJUNE e, 1913.

1,102,533,, Patented July 7, 1914.

K Y 7 l INVENTORS ATTORNEYS A. H. MATTHEW & J. B. PROUTY.

\SAFETY DEVICE FOR SHIPS, APPLKOATION FILED JUNE 6,1913.

1,102,533, Patented July 7, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHBBT 2.

INVENTORS A. H. MATTHEW & J. B. PROUTY. SAFETY DEVICE FOR. SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1913.

1 102 533 Patented July 7,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS coI. PHoro-urna, WASHINGTON. 0. 0..

A. H. MATTHEW & J. B. PROUTY.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SHIPS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 6, 1913.

Patented July 7, 1914.

INVENTORS J7. Mar flew 4 BHEETSSHEET 4.

m aud W/TIVE 8E8 4/7105 Jess 5. Frau 7 1 ATTORNEYS TERS (70..FHOTD-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. L.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS HENRY MATTHEW AND JESSIE BER/I" PROUTY, OF CCLVILLE WASHINGTON.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7 1914.

Application filed June 6, 1913. Serial No. 772,062.

against the sides thereof, and adapted to.

swing outward to impede the movement of the vessel.

The 1nvent1on comprises a novel means for controlling the wings, torelease and position them for braking action, and to fold them intoinoperative positions. Use is made of a drive shaft and means to draw inthe wings by the movement of the shaft, and

a wing-releasing mechanism actuated by,

' wing 10 a pusher rod14 1s provlded, ex-

compressed air. Provision is made for receivin the com ressed air froman conveniently located compressor or pump, there beingmanuallycontrolled means to cause the compressed air to release thewings;

also, to release the wings automatically by the impact of the vesselagainst an under water obstruction, fisher rams or pilot plungers areprovided, projecting beyond the bow of the vessel and so arranged thattheir forced rearward movement under the impact will serve to establishconnections and apply a pressure to release the wings.

The .distinguishing features of our invention and the importantstructural elements characterizing the practical embodiment which isillustrated as an example of means for carrying out the invention, willbe more particularly explained in the specific description hereinafterto be given.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a vessel equipped with our invention;Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a cross section ona larger scale; Fig. 4 is a detail in horizontal section, on the line 44of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View on the line 55 of Fig. 3;Fig. 6 is a detail in vertical section showing the operating ropes fordrawing the wings into closed position; and Fig. 7 is a detail sectionalview showing the plunger and presser rod for releasing the wings topermit their outward move- 7 ment.

In constructing our invention in accordance with the particular formillustrated as an example, series of wings 10 are suitably ,7 hinged attheir rear vertical edges to the sides of the vessel 11. Within thevessel compressed air pipes are arranged as hereinafter explained, andadapted to receive a supply of compressed air from a pipe 12 connectedin practice with any pump or compressor (not shown), the compressed airserving to release the wings 10, and cause them to receive an initialout-ward impulse to assume a slight angle to the vessel and cause themto be swung to the full open position under the pressure of the water.Means are provided to draw in the wings, said means being actuated froma drive shaft 13 turning in suitable bearings 18 For each tendingoutwardly through the side of the vessel, and is carried by a plunger 15movable in a cylinder 16, to which leads a branch pipe 17 from avertical manifold 18,

the respective manifolds being connected with supply pipes 19 to delivercompressed air at the back of, the plungers 1 5.

Communicating with the pipe 19 which extends transversely of the vessel,are elbow pipes 20 that are connected by their arms 21 with a branch 22leading from a standpipe 23, which has connection with the pipe 12 fromthe source of compressed air supply (see Fig. 5).

By the described pipe connections it will be seen that air, beingmaintained by reason of the pipe 12 in the standpipe 23, will bedelivered laterally through the pipes 19 to the manifolds 18 behind theseveral plungers 15, to force the plungers and the pusher rods 14outward to give an initial outward movement to the several wings. As themechanism is the same at each side of the vessel, it will be sufiicient,to describe one be broken by the greater likelihood of its vencountering obstructions, owing to its .the standpipe, the saidconnection 20 being in communication with the transverse} pipes 19.

Communication between the pipe connection 20? and the pipes 20 iscontrolled by plug valve 29 movable axially of the said; pipe connectionand extending across the pipe 19 into a rearward extension 26 in axial?alinement with the connection 20. A rearward movement of the plug valve29, the{ forward end of which is tapered as at 29%; will permit air tobe forced rearwardlyi through the connection 2O into the pipe 19,.f

the latter branching laterally in opposite directions to the mechanismat the opposite; sides of the vessel. A branch pipe 12 establishescommunication between the rearward pipe extension 26 and the initialsupply pipe 12, so that .the said rearward extension is subject to anyexcessive increase of pressure in the initial supply pipe. A,

safety valve 27, of any known form, here shown as under control of aweighted arm 27?, is provided in the rearward extension; 26, and theremay be a pressure gage 28 also 2 provided if desired. A pressure gage28* may also be provided on the standpipe 23;; thus there will be a gagein front of the plug valve 29, and one in the rear.

In the elbow pipes 20 valves 30 are provided, of the rotary type, apartial turn of the valve serving to let air pass into the pipes 19, orto cut off the supply, if desired, and in order to turn the said valvesfrom the drive shaft 13, we mount on the latter friction .disks33,-a-dapted to rotate with said drive shaft and also to slide thereon.The

valves 30 have a wheel 30 adapted to be frictionally driven by thefriction disks 33, and are formed with a flat side 30, so that theyshall receive only a partial rotation (see Fig. 5).

To shift the disks 33 into and out of engagement with the wheels ordisks 3.0. of the valves, shifting yokes 34 are provided on the hubs ofthe disks 33 and adapted to be thrown by levers 35. The disks'33 turnthe valves in one direction,say to open the valve, and disks 36 on thedrive shaft 13. at the opposite side of the valves 30, serve to give areverse movement to the valves, the

. disks 36 being slidable by shifting yokes 37 controlled bylevers 38.

Exhaust valves 31 to exhaust the air presany suitable connection, asindicated at 41,

may lead to the pilot house (not shown), or

. any other desired part of the vessel.

. At the upper end of the standpipe 23, an exhaust outlet 42 isprovided, commanded by a piston valve 43 in connection with a weightedarm 44, so that excessive pressure in said standpipe maybe relieved bysaid valve 43. To manually open the Valve 44, we provide a vertical rod45in threaded engagement at its upper end with a bracket 46 and guidedalso, if desired, in .a second bracket 46 below, the said rod having afriction disk 47 adapted to be turned by friction disks 48 on the driveshaft 13. A shifting yoke 49 having a lever 50 may be employed to throwa disk 48 'intodriving engagement with the disk 47, forturning the screwrod 45 in a direction to raise the arm 44 and shift the valve 43, toopen the exhaust pipe 42. 7

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, a pawl 51 engages a crown ratchetwheel 52 on a vertical shaft 53, having drums 54, winding on which areseries of cables 55 that lead outward through the side of the vessel, asillustrated in detail in Fig. 6, to a connection with the wings 10. Onthe drive shaft v 13 is a friction wheel 56 adapted to be movedlongitudinally by a shifting lever 57, to bring the friction wheel intocontact with the under side of the crown ratchet 52, for turning theshaft 53 and drawing the wings inward close against the vessel. Normallythe pawl 51 holds the shaft 53 against turning, and in order todisengage the pawl and permit the wings to swing outward upon receivingthe initial movement from the pusher rods 14, the said pawl 51 isprovided with an arm 51" which is adapted to be thrown to rock the pawlanddisengage the ratchet by contact of a pusher rod 58 on a plunger 59,which is movable in a cylinder 60 and extends also into the end of thepipe 19 which is in axial alinement with said cylinder, as shown in Fig.7. The arrangement is such that upon compressed air being admitted intothe pipes 19, itwill simultaneously force outward the plunger 59, torelease the pawl 51 and the plungers 15 to give an outward initialmovement to the wlngs 10.

Automatic friction brakes for the drums 54 are provided as follows: Onthe'shaft 53 shaft 53, which engages guides 73; thus when the shaftturns by the unwinding of the cables 55, the cross-heads 72 will bemoved against the springs and cause the springs to press the brakecollars 71 against the drums 54. i

It will thus be observed that the system provides for the automaticrelease of the wings as well as for their manual release, so that theymay be brought into action by the pilot rams coming in contact with anobstruction, or at the will of the ships officers.

In order that the openings through which the cables ass shall beeffectively closed both when t e wings are in the folded and in theoutward position, each hole is provided with a bushing 61 (see Fig. 6)which may flare as at 62, 63, at the exterior and interior of thevessel, and on the cable 55 buttons 65 and 66 are provided at theinterior and exterior of the vessel, the button 65 at the interior beingadapted to seat on the inner seat '62, when the wing is swung outward;similarly the button 66 at the exterior may seat on an auxiliary seat64:, at the flared end thereof, the described arrangement being one formof devices for the purpose.

The described construction is to be understood as afiording a practicalmeans for carrying our invention into effect, and we would state inconclusion that we do not limit ourselves to the mechanical detailsherein illustrated, since manifestly the same can be considerably variedwithout departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new' and desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

1. A safety device for marine vessels, comprising hinged wings on theexterior of the vessel, cables connected with said wings and leading tothe interior of the vessel, drums for said cables, a shaft on which saiddrums are mounted means to hold said shaft against turning, and afluid-actuated device for releasing said means.

2. In a safety device for marine vessels, brake wings on the exterior ofthe vessel hinged at their rear edges, cables attached to said wings andextending to the interior of the said vessel, winding drums for saidcables, a shaft for actuating said drums, a drive shaft, means formaking and breaking the driving connection between the drive shaft andthe drum shaft, a device normally holding the drum shaft againstturning, and fluid-controlled means for releasing said device.

3. In a safety device for marine vessels, brake wings hinged at theirrear edges, cables connected with the wings and extending to theinterior of the vessel, drums for winding said cables, an actuatingshaft for said drums, a drive shaft, means to establish drivingconnection between the drive shaft and the drum shaft for winding thecables on the drums, a device normally holding the drum shaft againstturning in a direction to unwind the cables, a fluid-controlled deviceto give an initial outward movement to the wings, a fluid-controlledmeans for releasing the device that holds the drum shaft, and means tosupply a fluid under pressure simultaneously to both of saidfluid-controlled means.

4. In a safety device for marine vessels, a series of brake wings on theexterior of the vessel, plungers carrying members to give an initialoutward movement to the wings, cylinders in which said plungers havemovement, a manifold communicating with said cylinders, an air pipeleading to said manifold, a standpipe, valve connections be tween thestandpipe and the said air pipe, forwardly disposed cylinderscommunicating with the standpipe and rams operating in said forwardlydisposed cylinders and ex tending forwardly beyond the bow of thevessel.

5. In a safety device for marine vessels, a series of brake wings on theexterior of the vessel, pilot rams projecting forwardly beyond the bowof the vessel, cylinders in which said rams are movable, afluid-controlled means for giving an initial outward movement to thewings, and connections between said cylinders and said fluid-controlledmeans to cause said rams, when moving rearwardly in their cylinders, toexert air pressure against said fluid-controlled means.

6. In a safety device for marine vessels, a series of exterior brakewings hinged at their rear edges, cables extending from said brake wingsto the interior of the vessel, series of winding drums for said cables,a shaft for actuating said drums, a ratchet disk on said shaft, a pawladapted to engage said ratchet disk and hold the drum shaft againstturning to unwind the cables, a fluid-controlled release device for saidpawl, a pipe for supplying a fluid under pressure to the said releasedevice, a drive shaft, a driving element on said drive shaft movableinto engagement with the ratchet disk to turn the drum shaft in adirection to wind the cables, a valve controlling the supply of fluid tothe said pipe, an exhaust from the said pipe, a valve for controllingsaid exhaust, and actuating means slidable on the drive shaft androtating therewith to reversely operate the said valves.

7 In a safety device for marine vessels, brake wings on the exterior ofthe vessel, at each side, and hinged to swing toward and from thevessel, means to hold the wings in the inner position, fluid-controlledmeans to release the wings and cause them to swingv outward, and meansfor supplying compressed air to said fluid-controlled means,

said last-mentioned means consisting of a pipe having communication withthe fluid- .controlled means at each side of thevessel,

and ranging transversely of the latter, an initial supply pipe adaptedto receive compressed air from a source of supply, a stand-' pipe towhich said supply pipe leads, valved pipe connections extending fromsaid stand pipe to the transverse pipe leading to the fluid-controlledmeans, a pipe extending from said transverse pipe at the opposite sidefromthe connection with the standpipe' and in axial alinement with saidconnection, and a piston valve in the last mentioned pipe connection atthe junction of the same with; the transverse pipe. v

,8. In a safety device for marine vessels,"

brake Wings on the exterior of the vessel hinged at the rear edges toswing toward and from the vessel, cables connected withj the wings andleading ;to the interior of the to close the vessel, drums to which thecables lead, said cables carrying buttons on the interior of the vesseland at the exterior thereof, there being seats on the hull of thevessel, at the are mounted, brakes for the drums, and

means operative by the turning of the shaft in response to the unwindingof the cables for applying the brakes to the drums.

In testimony whereof wehavesigned our names to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

AMOS HENRY MA'ITI-IEYV. 1 JESSIE BERT PROUIY, Witnesses. 1

F. LEO TRINSTEAD, .IIoWA1zD WV. SrULL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. I

